Celebrations in All Shapes and Forms

So much going on here I just had to write again sooner than normal !

Last week was so special with two people giving their hearts to the Lord in the tent city. Nothing can compare to that. But that week was also sad because Jara departed Haiti and returned to Hawaii. I know she was torn and I am positive that her heart is still in Haiti. But God's timing is perfect and I know she will be a part of the work in Haiti - whether she is in Hawaii or Haiti or somewhere else. We love and miss you Jara........

Jara's last full day in Haiti was Thursday the 12th so we had a party ! It was really a birthday party for the Girl's Orphanage (we told Jara it was for her - ha !) Anyway, it was really for all the girl's who had birthdays in April, May and June. Rhonda, our friend from Canada, came earlier in the week to do some work in Haiti so she brought all kinds of party favors and gifts that would have been nearly impossible to get in Haiti. Jara baked her famous cakes and the kids loved them ! Aaron (one of our staff) played his guitar and David (a team member from Washington) played his Ukulele - and the kids danced and sang and just had good fun all afternoon. Thanks Jara for making that first birthday party with the girl's so special !!

Friday night we went to a worship service by the Palace that was one of a kind. If you don't know what's going on in the Haitian government, we just completed a lengthy election process and "Sweet Micky" Martelly won. Saturday May 14th, Michael Martelly became the new president of Haiti. But what the news media probably won't tell you is that about one month ago, Martelly asked a 1,000 worship leaders from many many Christian churches through out the nation to come and pray for him and his new government. The worship leaders met about two weeks ago and prayed over Martelly. One of our worship leaders at church, who is also one of our daily interpreters, was invited to attend that prayer meeting with Martelly. He told us that Martelly actually got on his knees and asked the worship leaders to pray over him - and they did. Martelly then asked the worship leaders to put on a prayer and worship night outside the Palace grounds on Friday before he was inaugurated and that's the service we attended last Friday night. There was many many thousands of Christians there, worshipping, praying and calling on God to remove the evil from the Palace grounds and from all the government of Haiti. At one point the worship leaders on stage asked everyone in the crowd to get on their knees and pray and you can't imagine what that felt like to be on our knees in the middle of the street praying over the Palace and the government of Haiti with thousands of other Christians. For hundreds of years the Haitian government has been influenced by voodoo and I have read numerous accounts of voodoo ceremonies and even animal sacrifices in this part of town. What a wonderful way to start the new government in Haiti !! I don't know of any other time in modern history that a president has called for a special worship service to pray for his nation and the government he would take over the next day !! Praise God for His miracles !!

This Sunday during church service the pastor asked for anyone visiting for the first time to stand up (which they do every Sunday). One young man stood up who I recognized from the tent city next door. His name is Variste. When he introduced himself, he told the pastor right then and there that he wanted to become a Christian. So the Pastor told him to go with one of the leaders and they both walked off to a quiet place behind the church where he gave his life to Christ. Later that afternoon I took a team over to the tent city and there was Variste - beaming from ear to ear, telling me what he had done (although I knew it already !).

Phew !!! Way too much to keep up with. But such fun and blessings, just had to tell it now rather than wait !

God bless you all.

Mark

Birthday parties are such a blast !!

At least 20,000 people standing all over the streets in front of the National Palace - praying, worshipping, dancing and enjoying God's presence the night before the new president is sworn into office !! The tall things on the right are speakers on the edge of the huge stage (which is off camera to the right).